Jane the Virgin. “Jane the Virgin is as self-referential as any series currently on TV. It remains one of the most inventive, enjoyable shows on the air. Gina Rodriguez, Jaime Camil, and Anthony Mendez are all great, the entire cast is good, and the meta approach to the telenovela is well-done. Plus, they have managed to deal with the ‘Virgin’ aspect of the show with intelligence and believability.” Maureen Ryan named this the best show of the year.

Marvel’s Agent Carter. I really liked this series, and will write a bit more about it after the roundup is done. (Two words: Karen Sisco.) In the meantime, I’ll cite Mo Ryan again: “I think many people assume it’s easy to create something this joyful and jaunty — but of course, it requires as much or more craft and creativity as bleak and doom-laden fare.”

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. “I’m neither here nor there with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and I preferred the now-cancelled Agent Carter to this one. But I like the cast, especially Clark Gregg, and if it often feels like a poor step-sibling to the big Marvel movies, perhaps that’s a point in its favor.”

Mr. Robot. “Remarkably, Esmail rarely resorted to self-indulgence, and when he did (the ‘Alf’ episode), it was often so fun no one cared about indulgence. But Esmail walked a thin line with what seemed to me to be conscious obfuscation. While some obsessive viewers correctly anticipated some of the more startling plot moments, others (i.e. me) were simultaneously intrigued by the mystery and frustrated by the lack of revelation. Yes, Mr. Robot specializes in big, grand revelations, and they are part of what makes the series compelling. But they are satisfying in part because Esmail has been leading us along for long stretches. Rami Malek’s Emmy was well-deserved, and the casting in general effectively matches actors and characters. There’s nothing else like this out there right now. I can’t wait for Season Three to begin.”

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tv 2016: jane the virgin through mr. robot

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Jane the Virgin. “Jane the Virgin is as self-referential as any series currently on TV. It remains one of the most inventive, enjoyable shows on the air. Gina Rodriguez, Jaime Camil, and Anthony Mendez are all great, the entire cast is good, and the meta approach to the telenovela is well-done. Plus, they have managed to deal with the ‘Virgin’ aspect of the show with intelligence and believability.” Maureen Ryan named this the best show of the year.

Marvel’s Agent Carter. I really liked this series, and will write a bit more about it after the roundup is done. (Two words: Karen Sisco.) In the meantime, I’ll cite Mo Ryan again: “I think many people assume it’s easy to create something this joyful and jaunty — but of course, it requires as much or more craft and creativity as bleak and doom-laden fare.”

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. “I’m neither here nor there with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and I preferred the now-cancelled Agent Carter to this one. But I like the cast, especially Clark Gregg, and if it often feels like a poor step-sibling to the big Marvel movies, perhaps that’s a point in its favor.”

Mr. Robot. “Remarkably, Esmail rarely resorted to self-indulgence, and when he did (the ‘Alf’ episode), it was often so fun no one cared about indulgence. But Esmail walked a thin line with what seemed to me to be conscious obfuscation. While some obsessive viewers correctly anticipated some of the more startling plot moments, others (i.e. me) were simultaneously intrigued by the mystery and frustrated by the lack of revelation. Yes, Mr. Robot specializes in big, grand revelations, and they are part of what makes the series compelling. But they are satisfying in part because Esmail has been leading us along for long stretches. Rami Malek’s Emmy was well-deserved, and the casting in general effectively matches actors and characters. There’s nothing else like this out there right now. I can’t wait for Season Three to begin.”